Your online source for ag news. http://www.producer.com Farm organizations are renewing calls for a railway costing review after the Canadian Transportation Agency approved an eight percent increase in rail rates for grain. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=0 LEDUC, Alta. - Bob Wasieczko got more than he paid for at a recent auction sale. He believes the air seeder he bought likely has spores from clubroot, a serious canola disease. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=1 Canada's federal Conservative government last week announced a $45 million response to an urgent appeal from the World Food Program to help feed the world's hungry hit by rising food costs. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=2 For the first time in history, the Canadian government has decided that none of its food aid for foreign delivery must be purchased in Canada. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=3 Weather models indicate La Nina, the weather pattern that typically brings cooler temperatures to Western Canada, is declining in strength. That means it shouldn't affect the weather in western North America this summer. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=4 Biofuel promoters are fed up with the food versus fuel debate and are fighting back. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=5 The government attempt to get its ethanol legislation through the House of Commons made some small progress last week, but also hit another hurdle as opponents refused to let it come to a vote May 2 and it slid down the list of government priorities for Commons time. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=6 Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz will receive a letter from the House of Commons agriculture committee recommending that he delay plans to end KVD as a seed registration requirement until the industry is confident a credible alternative identification process exists. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=7 Canadian farm and agribusiness leaders will be watching anxiously this week as MPs vote on a private member's bill that would require mandatory labelling of any food product containing genetically modified material. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=8 Canadian National Railway can continue to use its new rail car distribution system, after the Canadian Transportation Agency ruled shippers did not suffer irreparable harm from the program. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=9 More than two months after legislation was introduced that would give cabinet the power to change the Canadian Wheat Board marketing mandate, it finally may have its first debate in Parliament this week. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=27 Saskatchewan will spend at least $20 million over the next 10 years to fix 100 kilometres of deteriorating pipe in two irrigation districts. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=28 Large increases in phosphate prices are forcing grain farmers to make difficult choices this spring. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=30 Another voice will be contributing to the cacophony that is Canada's farm lobby. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=31 Alberta has suffered higher than normal losses of overwintering bees for the second year in a row, but Manitoba and Saskatchewan saw some improvement over last year. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=32 Over Conservative objections, the House of Commons agriculture committee voted last week to demand that the federal government find $275 million to help Ontario's tobacco farmers quit the industry. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=33 <b>Livestock care awards</b> http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=35 Researchers say a soil revitalization technique used by a lost civilization in the Amazon jungle could help reverse the damage done by global warming. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=36 Researchers studying plants that promote the health and wellness of Canadians have received $5 million in federal funding. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=38 The number of people killed in all-terrain vehicle accidents in Alberta has increased dramatically, prompting two university researchers to call for restrictions on ATV use. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=50 Drought-devastated southwestern Saskatchewan will soon see relief through a government program aimed at developing emergency and long-term water supplies. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=59 Like most cattle producers in southwestern Saskatchewan, Larry Grant is short of water. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=60 While he recognizes the need to maintain commodity markets as hedging tools, the new boss of ICE Futures Canada says there should be room for all traders in the on-line pit. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=61 Farmers and landlords are asking a lot of questions about cropland rental this spring. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=66 Two years after her husband died in a farm accident, Lorna Chandler believes farms are no safer today than they were then. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=67 Javiera Rulli's posture quickly changes from a relaxed slouch to a straight back when asked if she is anti-science and opposed to agricultural technology. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=68 Alberta food banks will receive 600,000 pounds of ground pork from pigs slaughtered under the federal cull sow program. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=70 Soccer, summer and stalemate in Geneva are leaving the outcome of World Trade Organization negotiations in doubt, says Canadian agriculture negotiator Steve Verheul. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=71 When the new U.S. farm bill is signed into law, American fertilizer retailers will receive a tax credit to help pay for tightened security. http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/news.php?iss=2008-05-08&sec=news&sto=72